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Mesilla Valley Maze

The Mesilla Valley Maze is open to the public every weekend from Sept. 28 through Oct. 27 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 3855 West Picacho in Las Cruces.

“We’ve brought back all the traditional favorites this year, plus some exciting new features,” said Anna Lyles, owner of the Mesilla Valley Maze. “This year marks our 21st year of operation, and our entire staff is ready to go, showing families a great time while teaching the kids a bit about farms and food production.”

Tatum Russell, 4, inspects her pumpkin after taking a hayride to the pumpkin patch during the annual New Mexico Pumpkin Festival held at the Mesilla Valley Maze.(Photo: File photo)

The Lyles Family created the maze years ago to provide a traditional family experience to the area, and to also show children how important agriculture is to their lives. Private school field trips are conducted at the maze throughout the week to help emphasize the connection between farms and the food on their plates.

The Maze has slowly grown over the years to become an annual tradition for area children, teachers, and parents.

“Agriculture-based education has been an important part of the operation ever since I started it,” said Lyles. “Farming is our family tradition, and it’s something that every generation should understand and enjoy.”

Lyles and her husband Steve manage the family’s 2,000-acre farming operation, which includes the 45-acre Mesilla Valley Maze.

Discovery Child Development Center students Christian Schaper, left, and Riley Francis, both 4, have fun in a hamster wheel on Sept. 24 at the Mesilla Valley Maze.(Photo: Jett Loe / Sun-News file photo)

Schedule of events:

Sept. 29: Seventh annual Girl Scout Day

Oct. 5 and 6: Fall Festival

Oct. 26 and 27: New Mexico Pumpkin Festival

If you go

Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Date: Sept. 29 to Oct. 28

Place: 3855 W. Picacho in Las Cruces

Cost: Adult admission is just $12, children under 12 are $10, and two and under are free. $2 military discount with ID.

La Union Maze

Just outside of El Paso, La Union Maze is gearing up for seven weeks of fall family fun. This year's theme will be Western Tech and it kicks off Saturday, Sept. 21, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 3.

In addition, La Union Maze will show support for the El Paso Walmart shooting victims by carving a heart with the letters "EP" to honor the lives that were lost and for everyone that was affected by the tragedy.

During the week, the maze hosts hundreds of children during school field trips and on the weekends serves the general public.

(Photo: Courtesy Photo )

For 20 years La Union Maze has been a place to gather during Autumn to enjoy the cooler weather, to walk the ever challenging 12-acre maze and to take a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch for the perfect pumpkin. Folks spend an average of five hours, keeping busy with the many activities it has to offer.

In addition to the maze, there is a huge pumpkin patch with a great

number of pumpkin varieties and sizes. A wagon ride takes people to pick

their perfect pumpkin, and when they return, they can be challenged in the

big maze, view live pig races, slide in the big slide, jump on the family

jumping pillow, ride the cow train and do countless more activities. Visitors can also

relax and enjoy delicious types of food under the shade of our big tent.

This year the fall destination has added more special events that are going to make the

Cristal Kish, left, Vanessa Goldsmith, center, and Stephanie Goldsmith carry pumpkins out of a large patch at the La Union Maze at 1101 Highway 28 in La Union, N.M. Sunday. The maze, now in its 16th year, was playing host to one of their biggest weekends, said Lucy Sondgeroth, who owns the maze along with husband Robert Sondgeroth. The corn maze itself sits on 13 1/2 acres of their 32-acre farm. “Its very complicated but people like the challenge,” she said. They also have a small flower maze. Their pumpkin patch sits on 14 acres. The maze is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the first week of November. (Photo: RUDY GUTIERREZ / EL PASO TIMES)